I'm writing a fantasy book that is very involved and has a great deal of back story that takes place outside of the book itself. I have been seeking some creative feedback from as many people as I can in relation to the back story and the universe in which the story is set, but I'd like to allow for the opportunity to discuss these things in a message board environment.

Rather than post the manuscript itself on my site, I'm thinking of a few possibilities: to create a wiki or encyclopedia on my own site surrounding the details of my book's setting, to write a few serialized short stories to post on a blog as teasers to the actual novel's content (but not included in the novel itself), and to post articles about other aspects of the book's setting. The other possibility, failing that, is to make the same content privately available to a very limited audience in an online message board, so it can be discussed within that circle.

So the question: do any of the veteran authors here think that a publisher might shy away from a manuscript that has "derivative work" published digitally? Would I be better off not risking it? I really would love feedback and participation in this project, but it's been my central literary work for half of my life and I can't risk losing the chance to spread it to the general public. Thanks everyone.
 

It won't necessarily help your chances of being published (ultimately, your manuscript has to stand by itself) but I very much doubt that it will hurt your chances.

That's just opinion - I haven't got a novel contract - but I'd be surprised if a publisher actually saw what you are proposing as a negative factor.